Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Familie, Famelie, n. Also: familly, -iellie, -yllye, -ylie, -ely, -eley, -ellie, -alye, -alie, -allie; femelie, feamilie, -alie. [e.m.E. familie (1545), -ely, -uly, L. familia. Cf. Famyle.] A family or household.(a) 1513 Doug. Æn. Comm. vii/2.
The famyllye or clan Julyan 1551 Reg. Cupar A. II. 71.
Our said place at all tymes salbe patent and reddy to ws, our successouris, brethren, and famylie a1578 Pitsc. I. 146/20.
He with his wyffe, bairnes and familie were all brunt 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 45.
Na prelat, erle, nor barron … sal ryde with ane greater familie (number) of men and hors nor is convenient … to his estate(b) 1564 Inverness B. Rec. I. 114.
That ewerie houshaldar … wyth thair famelie be inrollit in ane buike 1581 Acts III. 205/2.
His domestik seruandis and famelie 1591 Edinb. Test. XXII. 271.
His moder being present in houshald & famelie with him 1648 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 129.
Ilk famelie to send out ane persone … for … removing of the red fra the cast [etc.] 1681 Red Bk. Menteith II. 198.
For the better standing of your antient famely(c) 1604 Stewart Memor. 112.
Thair vyffis, barans, servandis, famallie [etc.] 1644 Fam. Seton MS. 231.
Considering the condition of the famalie 1681 Red Bk. Menteith II. 194.
My pouer tho' ancient feamalie

b. Family exercise, family worship. (1639) Spalding I. 244.
Mr. David Lyndsay … appoint[ed] morning and evening prayeris in ilk manes houss, callit the Famelie Exerceis, according to the ordinans of the kirk 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. A 2 b.
Like sermons repeated by children and serving lasses in a Presbyterian Family-Exercise